Navigating life as an NBA player, as one can imagine, must be very challenging, especially if you're still in your late teens. Such is the case for many of the rookies who come into the league each year.
From presumably playing college basketball and having a fraction of the responsibilities and expectations to being thrust into the rough, real world of the NBA and life as a professional in general, it can definitely be a shocking experience, even more so for the top picks who have the spotlight on them.
From endorsements and media to life and logistics and everything in between, it's definitely a wild ride, especially if there's nobody to guide you through it all.
For those fortunate enough to be second-generation NBA players, however, the transition may be a bit easier.
Take, for example, the third overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Cameron Boozer , whose dad, Carlos , was a 13-year NBA veteran.
As Cameron begins to chart his own NBA journey, Carlos makes sure to impart some pretty valuable words of wisdom.
During a recent Reddit Ask-Me-Anything session, Boozer Sr., the two-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers , Utah Jazz , Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers during his career, shared the biggest piece of advice that he gave his son Cameron.
"The biggest advice I gave my son was to enjoy the moment," Carlos shared . "I know he's had a lot of great moments, a lot of success early in life. Again, he's only 18 years old, turns 19 next week, and my biggest advice was don't let the moments pass you by. That's one of the mistakes that I made."
Carlos then went on to detail his own experiences and how Cameron can learn from his missteps.
"I would win the ACC championship, and I'm looking forward to the National Championship, so my mind's going to that. Won the National Championship. I'm getting ready to get drafted. I never really celebrated the small victory," Carlos elaborated. "So I told my son, just be where your feet are. Conquer today if you have practice today, if you have a film session, if you have a Summer League game out here in Vegas. Conquer each moment, conquer each day, and enjoy each moment because you may never play Summer League again."
Truly wise words from somebody who lived the NBA life. And given just how unpredictable the NBA can be, it is indeed a good idea to slow down and take in the moments as they come.
"You're never going to get drafted again. All those moments have happened, so make sure you soak in that moment as you continue to plan for your future," Carlos added.
Carlos had himself a long and solid NBA career, and if everything falls into place, so will Cameron.
Widely considered as already being NBA-ready, the 6-foot-10 Boozer averaged a monster 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds in his lone year with Duke.
In two games so far in the Summer League, Boozer is averaging 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and two steals.
With his versatile scoring, strong rebounding, and high-level playmaking abilities for a big man, Cameron could easily carve out a nice rotation role for himself on the rebuilding Memphis Grizzlies , who are looking to begin a new chapter after moving on from the Ja Morant era.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jul 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
